Bird kites fly in gusty wind

My 2,117th kite video. Our winter in NZ is not providing many flying days, but I found a brief opportunity to put some bird kites into the air, including the fabulous Sky Bird.
Anyone wanting to check out all my "How to..." videos on various aspects of kite-flying can now find them all easily on my Playlist at / jimskitesnz .

[@kiteflyingdownunder....car6272]

"A few hardy people." I include you in that number. That wind looked brisk and cold. Well done on showing those lovely bird kites.

[@JimNicholls]

It will probably get colder for the next few weeks, Carl, but I shall do my best to still fly occasionally.

[@deweygravesjr.122]

Nice bird video Jim. Sky Bird is big! 16' wow. Like always amazing video. Thanks Jim!

[@JimNicholls]

It was the biggest of the bird kites, Dewey, but is no longer made. It pulls very hard in a strong breeze.

[@craigh3381]

Beautiful kites Jim...thank you for sharing...

[@JimNicholls]

Glad you like them, Craig. I wish I could fly more often, but we're in the middle of winter now and there are few opportunities.

[@SingaporeCityWalks]

The Sky Bird is very big with a 16ft wingspan. I saw a handsome guy holding this big bird for comparison. A lovely fly day.

[@JimNicholls]

The Sky Bird is very special, and I'm happy to have it. I don't know who the scruffy guy holding the kite was - just some random stranger who happened to be passing by and offered to help.

[@achiral]

Always a delight to see a george peters kite! Hopefully this weekend I can fly my sky bird this weekend if the rains subside.

[@JimNicholls]

We are lucky to have the Sky Birds, as they've been out of production for several years now and probably will never return.

[@pfkites8967]

Wonderful bird kites. I think I will look for a bird kite😊

[@JimNicholls]

They are good to have, but some are better than others. The Sky Bird was the king of them all, but is now out of production.

[@stevenelliott155]

G'day Jim. Sorry to harp on about it but just as I was thinking nearly 5 metres wide, I wonder how that looks next to a person. Then you answered. Thanks very much.

[@JimNicholls]

I anticipated your question, Steven! It's not easy filming things like that without another cameraperson, and I stuffed it up the first time of trying and only just had enough time for another attempt before I had to pack up.

[@flyingfish1849]

What a nice array for a windy day! I landed a sky bird a few years ago after you showed its beauty- always lots of comments (if anyone is on the beach!).

[@JimNicholls]

@flyingfish1849 It's certainly a great kite, Steve, and as you probably know, I once owned three of them. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford to keep them all (they ate too much!) and now I have just the one. Sadly for would-be purchasers, it is now out of production, and it seems unlikely to return.

[@georgepeters4326]

Thanks, Jim, for the fun little Flying Birds video! And for including my Sky Bird kite in there as well. Birds on the wind! A natural! Best winds, George Peters

[@JimNicholls]

Thank you, George, for watching and for your comment. Your Sky Bird has been one of my top favourites for many years, and at one time I owned three of them (including one black and white.) I had to dispose of two, and a lot of other great kites, after I retired and times got a little hard. Now, with my 84th birthday a few weeks away, I hope to hold on to the kites I have left and continue to fly the Sky Bird quite often.

[@PanyingPilot]

Turbulent conditions. Wind must be coming off the land, I guess.

[@JimNicholls]

It was blowing parallel to the beach, Glenn, so neither one thing nor the other really. We don't have many good days at the moment, unfortunately.

[@hanafifumi]

cool kite, amazing picture taking...I really like it👍👍👍

[@JimNicholls]

Many thanks. I wish I was as clever as you are and then I would make my own kites!

[@BertdeJonge-cx2xp]

If you want a Sky Bird (or Cloud Bird): They are being made again, by Vliegerbedrijf De Paddestoel in the Netherlands

[@JimNicholls]

That's good, although now even more expensive! But as Into The Wind no longer make them, it's the only chance to own one of these great kites. I would not recommend the Cloud Bird as, although it looks like a smaller Sky Bird, it does not fly as well, and of course is not as impressive. Better to save up your pennies for the big one.

[@fhampshire2436]

Beautiful as always jim! Thank you! Id rather be on your chilly beach as its 96 degrees and sunny here today so can't fly...too hot!

[@JimNicholls]

I hope you're surviving the heat! Something between your temperature and mine would suit me best.

[@NB_KITES]

i watch this video over and over again, sky bird is my dream kite i don't have one, who can just watch.. beautiful and big kite perfect😘

[@JimNicholls]

The Sky Bird is a lovely kite. It was very expensive, but I am happy to have it. Now that kite is not made any more.

[@longbeachpeninsulawaphotos]

Great weather to fly the "birds". Let them get some execise. When in the air; I didn't realize how big the orange one was was; until I saw him on the beach.

[@JimNicholls]

Yes, it's hard to appreciate the size of the Sky Bird when it's flying, which is why I thought I'd better show it grounded.

[@davejentsch824]

Hello old friend, that is one of the most beautiful - if not THE most beautiful - kites around.

[@JimNicholls]

I agree! Anyone who owns a Sky Bird is very lucky.

[@ronstewart9792]

The bird kites look great but that 16 footer is awesome Jim. Ron

[@JimNicholls]

The Sky Bird is superb, Ron. It was an expensive kite, but sadly is now out of production.

[@vikramsinghkite4358]

Beautiful Bird kites flying sir 👍🏼👍🏼

[@JimNicholls]

Thank you, Vikram.

[@alanshepherd3801]

I have a sky bird as well. Your support rods look different than mine, have you replaced them with something different? Mine are pretty heavy black fiberglass poles. The main support is the two sectioned version.

[@JimNicholls]

I bought mine years ago from a store in Singapore, in shop-soiled condition (it has some stains which are invisible in the air). They had used it as a display model, and somehow lost the cross-spars when taking it down. The made an alternative cross-spar and sewed on pockets for it as they didn't have the end fittings that the original has. It all works well, and I saved a lot of money, so I've been happy with it. At one time I owned two of this one and a black and white version, but I sold the others.

[@alanshepherd3801]

@@JimNicholls Ah I see, glad you were ale to get this bird cheaply. Mine flies great but is starting to show some wear and some of the stitchings are going to need to be repaired before long. It's always a pleasure to be able to take it out.

[@JimNicholls]

Mine has been repaired in a couple of places, but I think it will outlast me!

[@papercutpostman1660]

What a beautiful setting to fly kites!

[@JimNicholls]

It's a good spot, but a bit cool at this time of year. Biggest problem is too many dogs running loose, which I try to avoid showing.

[@EvanPang-w4i]

Very pretty!

[@JimNicholls]

Thank you, Evan. I'm not managing to fly very often at the moment as our winter weather is not friendly to kite-fliers.